REILLY

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, October 05, 2014 at 09:16:46 :

Marin County Tocsin
Saturday, January 26, 1901
Page 3

Matt Reilly Killed
W. F. Warburton’s Deadly Gun Robs San Rafael of a General Favorite
A More Deliberate Murder has Never Been Placed to the Discredit of Our City

San Rafael was startled last Saturday night by the announcement of a bloody tragedy, the first that has occurred in this neighborhood in many years. The victim was Matt Reilly, a respected and popular young man, and the murderer, W. F. Warburton, well known as the proprietor of the Cypress Villa.

The details of the affair, so far as the actual killing was concerned, are speedily told. Warburton was at the bar of Shannon’s Villa, on Fourth St., about 9 o’clock in the evening, when Reilly and a young man named Keigho entered. The former walked up to Warburton and said quietly and without hostile demonstration, “I want to have a talk with you.” As near as can be gathered from the witnesses, Warburton replied, “I will have nothing to do with you.” At the same time, quick as a flash, he drew a pistol and discharged it, only, a few inches from Reilly’s head. The unfortunate man fell to the floor and expired instantly. While the horror stricken spectators were still riveted to the spot, the assassin calmly opened the door and disappeared into the night.

Prior incidents leading up to the tragedy will doubtless be gone into fully at the trial. There are rumors afloat of a character that his paper will not even hint at and we leave all such matters to the tribunals of justice, confident that speedy justice will be done. Of his own making, it is certain that Matt Reilly did not have an enemy in town. He was an industrious, law abiding young man, honestly endeavoring to do his whole duty in life and fill the numerous obligations thrust upon him as the head of a large family. No one ever knew of his being engaged in a quarrel or of injuring his neighbor by word or deed. His frank, straightforward character gained him a general popularity and his funeral was one of the largest that San Rafael has ever witnessed. Company D, of which organization he was a member, followed his remains to the tomb.

Died
REILLY – In San Rafael, January 19, 1901, Matthew W. Reilly, dearly beloved husband of Annie Reilly, and father of Bernice Reilly, and son of Katherine and the late Bernard Reilly, a native of San Rafael, aged 30 years and 11 months.